What Was the Purpose of a Zoo and How Has It Evolved?
Historically, zoos served primarily as venues for entertainment, offering the public a chance to view exotic animals from distant regions—especially for those who lacked the means to travel. Ancient civilizations such as the Egyptians and Romans were among the earliest to keep animal collections, typically reserved for royalty and used as symbols of wealth and power. Over time, these menageries evolved into more structured institutions.
In contrast, modern zoos have shifted away from mere spectacle toward a focus on conservation, education, and research. As Miranda et al. note in The Role of Zoos and Aquariums in a Changing World, “From their origins as enclosures for the mere entertainment of the public, these institutions have undertaken new functions responding to the biodiversity crisis and social demands. Modern zoos and aquariums have the opportunity to educate people, contribute to species conservation, and produce animal-related research.”¹ Today’s zoos often work to preserve endangered species, rehabilitate wildlife, and raise public awareness about ecological and environmental challenges.
I intend to show images and figures from this article, The Role of Zoos and Aquariums in a Changing World, in my work. I will include a timeline. That explains the possible origins of zoos to the present-day evolution.
Image 2 - Jacques-Laurent Agasse, Group of Whelps Bred between a Lion and a Tigress, 1825, Yale Center for British Art, New Haven.
I selected Jacques-Laurent Agasse’s 1825 painting Group of Whelps Bred between a Lion and a Tigress to help my students examine the evolution of zoos—how their purpose and practices have changed over time. This image offers a powerful entry point to reflect on the troubling history of hybrid breeding—pairing animals from different species to create offspring that would never naturally exist in the wild. These practices were not grounded in conservation or ecological stewardship but instead stemmed from a human desire for spectacle, novelty, and control over nature. Through this painting, I aim to spark critical discussion: Do animals belong in zoos? Is it humane? Why or why not? My goal is to guide students in wrestling with these ethical questions and thinking more deeply about the role humans have played in shaping—and sometimes exploiting—the lives of animals for science, amusement, or power.
The second image I selected is a painting by Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (1802–1873), which serves as a powerful commentary on the exploitation and cruelty animals endured in the early nineteenth century. During this period, animals were not captured for scientific study or conservation, but rather to satisfy public fascination with exotic creatures. Many were forced to perform unnatural and often demeaning acts solely for human entertainment.
What makes this painting particularly compelling is its layered symbolism and dark sense of poetic justice. On the floor lies a newspaper bearing the striking red headline, “Positively His Last Appearance on This Stage,” suggesting the tragic fate of the performer—Mr. Van Amburgh—implying that he was ultimately killed by the very animals he once dominated. Below the headline, a reference to Shakespeare’s The Taming of the Shrew adds an ironic twist, reinforcing the notion that his downfall was both dramatic and inevitable.
The painting is rich with symbolic details: a discarded bouquet, a laurel crown, and the tattered remnants of an elaborate costume—all suggest a fallen figure, perhaps even an allegorical emperor, stripped of control and grandeur. Most striking, however, are the animals’ expressions. Their faces convey emotion, resistance, and intelligence—reminding the viewer that these were sentient beings subjected to confinement, humiliation, and abuse.
This artwork functions as an excellent primary source for middle school students to critically analyze. It encourages them to consider not only the visual content, but also the historical and ethical implications. Students often ask, when were anti-cruelty laws introduced? Why did society tolerate this treatment of animals? These are precisely the kinds of questions I want them to explore.
At the time this painting was created, public concern for animal welfare was minimal. The primary motivation behind such exhibitions was spectacle. Since most people could not afford to travel and see animals native to distant lands such as Africa or India, traveling menageries and early zoos became popular forms of entertainment. Landseer’s work offers a critical lens through which to examine this cultural reality, emphasizing the emotional toll on animals and the moral consequences of human dominance over nature.
Through this image, students are invited to engage in critical discussions surrounding ethics, historical context, and the power of visual storytelling. The expressive faces of the animals, combined with the theatrical intensity of the scene, provide a compelling lens through which to examine the evolving relationship between humans and the natural world.
Art has long played a role in shaping public perception of animals and their treatment, particularly in the nineteen century. In Picturing Animals in Britain, Diana Donald explains how artists like Edwin Landseer not only celebrated the beauty of animals but also offered subtle critiques of their exploitation in menageries and traveling shows. As Donald observes, these exotic animals were “captives from mountain and forest,” displayed for human amusement rather than conservation—a practice vividly echoed in Landseer’s portrait of Van Amburgh.
Image 3 - Sir Edwin Henry Landseer (1802–1873)“Portrait of Mr. Van Amburgh, As He Appeared with His Animals at the London Theatres,” Summer 1846 to March 1847
This image powerfully illustrates the mistreatment of animals in traveling zoos and circuses—exactly the kind of historical reality I want my students to critically engage with. I want them to make careful observations, ask meaningful questions, and explore the deeper message behind the painting. By closely examining the details—especially the newspaper headline, which I will highlight through shared images—I hope to provoke thoughtful discussion about the ethics of animal treatment during this era. My goal is for students to not only analyze the symbolism in the artwork but also to reflect on how society's fascination with exotic animals often came at the cost of their well-being.
Sir Edwin Landseer’s painting Portrait of Mr. Van Amburgh, As He Appeared with His Animals at the London Theatres (1846–47) critiques the spectacle of human dominance over animals through theatrical display. The scene is layered with symbolism: the discarded bouquet, the laurel crown, and the visibly distressed animals. Art historian Diana Donald writes that artists like Landseer “not only documented animal beauty, but also critiqued their exploitation in menageries and traveling zoos. These exotic creatures were ‘captives from mountain and forest,’ exhibited more for human amusement than conservation.” Landseer’s portrayal of Van Amburgh powerfully reflects this tension, offering viewers a moral reflection on the ethics of captivity and performance.
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